A man in Japan has found a way to earn money without working, turning what many see as an impossible dream into a reality. While most people grind through early alarms, long commutes, and heavy workloads, this individual has discovered a way to live without the usual hustle, making his life a true exception to the norm. His approach has caught widespread attention, offering a glimpse into a life free from the conventional stresses of earning a living.

Shoji Morimoto, known as the rental "do nothing" guy, earns Rs 69 lakh annually by simply offering his presence to strangers without doing much. Once fired for not adding value to his job, the 41-year-old now receives nearly 1,000 requests each year for his unique service, proving that sometimes, just being there is enough.

Morimoto gets all kinds of unusual requests, like chatting with someone over a video call while they clean or waiting at a marathon finish line for a runner. His services aren’t cheap, though. At first, he charged between 10,000 yen and 30,000 yen (Rs 5,400 to Rs 16,200) for a two- to three-hour session. But by the end of 2024, he switched to a “pay-as-you-wish" system, where clients pay what they think his presence is worth.

While speaking to CNBC Morimoto said, “I charge a voluntary fee, so I’m not sure if it will be sustainable, but I’m enjoying seeing if it can be." He mentioned that his main goal is to "simply live life and enjoy it," rather than making money.

He explained that people in Japan hire him because they feel more at ease with his presence in social situations where they might feel uncomfortable. Surprisingly, these clients don’t even expect him to interact with them.
Sharing an example, Morimoto recalled a time when a client, unable to attend a concert with a friend, hired him to take her place.

Morimoto also recalled another experience when a woman paid him to sit quietly in a corner of a café while she told her husband she was divorcing him. He noted that the paperwork went smoothly, and the woman felt more confident having someone familiar nearby.

He went on to say, “There are many moments I cherish in this job, like when I receive a request, meet a client, accompany someone to a new place, or simply listen to a story. I find joy in every moment. There’s nothing else I truly want to do,” as reported by the media outlet.